Cartridge reloading tool with improved primer insertion and extractor means



y 1966 R. s. HAVOURD ETAL 3,259,007

ELOADING TOOL WITH IMPROVED PRIMER CARTRIDGE R INSERTION AND EXTRACTORMEANS Filed July 21, 1964 INVENTORS R/CHARD 3. HA vol/RD W/LL/AM 6.W/NTO/V BY W yedbe M w/7 S United States Patent necticut Filed July 21,1964, Ser. No. 384,185 Claims. (CI. 8636) This invention relates toreloading tools for ammunition, particularly pistol and rifle cartridgecases and bullets.

As is well known, a reloading tool comprises a frame, for holding sizingand forming dies, with reciprocable plunger provided for forcingcartridge cases into the appropriate die or swaging bullets. Reloadingtools also generally include an extractor for removing expended primersand for inserting new primers.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a cartridgereloading tool having improved constructional characteristics insuringmaximum accuracy and ease of resizing cartridge cases and swagingbullets.

Another object of this invention is to provide a cartridge reloadingtool having an improved primer insertion and extractor means.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a highly versatilecartridge reloading tool which can be readily converted for right andleft handed operators.

The above and other objects and advantages of this invention will bemore readily apparent from the following description and with referenceto the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a cartridge reloading tool embodyingthis invention;

FIG. 2 is .a partial side elevational view of the reloading tool shownin FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a section taken along line 33 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a section taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 1.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the reloading tool embodying thisinvention comprises a frame indicated generally at 6. The frame isapproximately in the form of a figure eight and is preferably a steeldrop forging. A bore 7 is provided in the frame for supporting a die,for resizing cartridges or swaging bullets, as indicated generally at 8.As shown a primer ejector pin 9 extends downwardly from within thesizing die.

The frame 6 has laterally spaced, parallel uprights 10 and a cross web11 intermediate upper and lower cross members 13 of the frame. The web11 includes a bore 12 in axial alignment with the bore 7 of the uppercross member 13 and with bore 14 of the lower cross member 13. The bores12 and 14 serve as bearing surfaces to guide the movement of plunger 15,shown in its lower or retracted position in FIG. 1 and in its upperposition in FIG. 2. The web 11 is vertically disposed to guidesubstantially the entire actual working portion of the plunger stroke,that is during the portion of the plunger stroke when the cartridge isbeing forced into the sizing die mounted on the frame 6. The web isspaced sufliciently from the lower cross member 13 to afford widelyspaced bearing surfaces for the plunger during the working portion ofthe plunger stroke.

The plunger bearing web 11 includes an access slot 16 which, as is shownin FIG. 3, provides for free and easy placement and removal of cartridgecases from the head of the plunger 14.

It will be noted, in FIG. 1, that the plunger guide 11 is disposedapproximately midway of the length of the plunger stroke represented bya, in FIG. 1, with b representing the distance of the bearing web orplunger guide "ice 11 from the lowermost position of the plunger 15.Thus the plunger or ram 15 is engaged and guided by the bore 12 of thebearing web 11 when the greatest force is being exerted by the plunger,that is, when work is being done in the die on the cartridge case orbullet. The web 11 thus minimizes the possibility of the plunger beingtilted or shifted out of axial alignment with the die supported ormounted in the upper cross head of the figure eight frame 6. It will, ofcourse, be appreciated that even the slightest movement, tilt or shiftof the plunger relative to the die axis would result in inaccuracies incartridge case resizing or bullet swaging.

The figure eight frame of the reloading tool, embodying this invention,is supported by a base indicated generally at 18 in FIGS. 1 and 2. Thebase includes a socket 20, provided with an internal bore 21, andvertical and horizontal flanges 22 and 24, respectively, disposed atright angles to each other providing a corner mount. The flanges areprovided with holes to enable the base to be securely fastened to anysupporting surface, such .as on the edge of a table or work bench usedfor the reloading operation.

Extending downwardly from the lower end of the frame 6 is a stem 26 ofbifurcated construction which projects from the lower end of the basesocket 20. At its upper end the stem has a reduced diameter forming anannular groove 27 whereby a shoulder is provided for rotatably engagingthe upper surface of the base. Thus, the entire frame is rotatable inthe socket of the base. A set screw 28 may be provided to extend intothe groove 27 of the stem so as to maintain the frame and base in theiras sembled relation.

The stem 26 is made up of two spaced opposed semicylindrical legs 29 and30. The outer surfaces of the legs 29 and 30 forming stem 26 arecylindrical so that the frame is freely rotatable in the socket 20 ofthe base 18. The inner surface contour of the legs 29 and 30 is alsocylindrical providing a slide or guideway for the reciprocating motionof the plunger 15, particularly in the lower portion of its stroke. Attheir lower ends the legs 29 and 30 also serve to support a plungeroperating lever 32.

The plunger 15 is operated by the handle or operating lever 32 whichextends outwardly and upwardly from a forked arm 34 pivoted on a pin 36,supported adjacent the lower ends of the legs 29 and 30 of the framestem 26. A connecting link 38 is pivotably connected, as indicated at40, to the end of arm 34, opposite the operating lever 32. The other endof connecting link 38 is pivotably connected to the lower end of theplunger 15 as shown at 42 in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the plunger 15may be raised by moving the operating lever 32 downward, to the right,and lowered by raising the operating lever 32.

Mounted on the frame of .the reloading tool, is a primer arm 44pivotally connected to the lower cross portion 13 of the figure eightframe. The primer arm 44 is pivoted on a pin 46 which extends between apair of spaced arms 48 and 50 extending radially from the lower crossportion of the figure eight frame 6. The primer arm shown is anL-sh-aped 'b-ar having a hub portion 51 extending radially from thepivot pin 46 and an arm portion extending at right angles from the hubfor fitting into a longitudinal slot 52 formed in .the plunger 15. Theupper end of the primer arm is provided with an upwardly extendingprimer insertion cup 53 for holding and inserting new primers incartridge cases.

With the inner end portion of the primer arm 44 extending into the slot'52, the primer arm is automatically operated in response to plungermovement in a manner to be described below. In this regard, the innerwall of the slot 52 curves outwardly at its lower end as shown at 55.This provides a cam surface so that when the plunger 15 is raised asshown in FIG. 2, the primer arm 44 is automatically c ammed or tiltedupwardly and outwardly to a convenient position for inserting a primerin cup 53 of the arm 44. In addition, the end face of arm 44 is disposedat the lower side of a downwardly extending bore 58 which extends fromthe slot 52 and opens through to the opposite side of the plunger 15.With this arrangement when the plunger is raised "by the operating lever32 for the sizing of a used cartridge case, the used primer is ejected,falls in slot 52 of the plunger 15, is deflected rearwardly by the endface of plunger arm 44 through the bore 58 to the rear of the reloadingtool. A receptacle may be placed to catch ejected primers. There is thusno chance of expended primers interfering in any way with the properinsertion of a new primer cap.

Moreover, as shown in FIG. 2, the primer arm 44 is disposed upwardly ata most convenient oblique angle for ready insertion of a fresh primer.As previously mentioned, when the plunger is thereafter lowered byraising the operating lever 32, a res-ized and deprimed cartridge iscarried downwardly for :repriming. In response to downward movement ofthe plunger, the primer arm 44 returns by gravity to its horizontalposition (FIG. 1). The arm 44 is constructed so its center of gravity isinward of the pivot pin 46, thus no springs or other aids are requiredfor its operation.

At its upper end the plunger 15 is provided with a removable adapter orshell holder 64 having a rim which fits around the rim of the cartridgecase and thereby holds the cartridge case securely in place on the upperend of the plunger. A number of interchange-able adapters may beprovided for various calibers of ammunition. The plunger slot 52communicate-s, through a central hole 65 in the adapter 64, with theupper face of the plunger 15, best shown in FIG. 4. Thus, when theplunger is lowered by operation of the lever arm, the cartridge casecarried by the plunger, is brought firmly down onto the primer arm 44.With a fresh primer extending from cup 53 of arm 44, a firm upwardstroke of the lever arm securely and positively seats the new primer inthe cartridge case. The resized, reprimed cartridge can then be readilyremoved from the plunger, the access slot 16 in the web facilitatingremoval of long cartridge cases.

If for any reason it is desired to shift the operating lever to theother side of the frame, this can be readily accomplished by simplyremoving the pivot pin 36 and rotating the arm 34 clockwise until theconnecting link 38 is carried between the legs 29 and 30 to the rightside of the frame. Reinsertion of the pin 36 completes the change-overas may be desirable for left handed operation of the reloading tool.

It will be noted that an access slot 66 for cartridge cases is providedin the plunger adapter 64. The slot is disposed at a substantial anglerelative to the primer insertion arm 44. This offset arrangement betweenthe cartridge receiving slot 66 and primer arm 44 facilitates cartridgeinsertion and removal since the primer arm is entirely out of the way ofcartridge insertion and removal.

. Having thus described this invention, what is claimed 1s:

1. In an ammunition reloading tool having a frame and plunger, a primerarm disposed on said frame and pivotable betwen primer receiving andprimer inserting positions, said plunger including a longitudinallyextending slot, for ejected primer caps, terminating at its lower end inan outwardly extending cam surface, said primer arm extending into saidslot and being engaged by said cam surface when the plunger is raised,said arm thus being pivotable in response .to reciproeable plungermovement whereby said arm is automatically moved by said plunger from anupwardly extending primer receiving position to a generally horizontalposition for inserting a primer into a cartridge, said longitudinal slotterminating at its lower end in communication with a port extendin gfrom the slot through the wall of the plunger, the end of said primerarm terminating at said port when the plunger is at one end of itsstroke whereby said primer arm serves to deflect ejected primers fromsaid slot through said port.

2. Ammunition reloading tool comprising a frame having a generallyupright figure-eight configuration having upper, central and lower crossportions, a plunger carried by said tool having an upright reciprocablestroke within the frame, the upper cross portion of said frame includingmeans for mounting ammunition sizing dies, the head of said plungerbeing provided with means for carrying ammunition components, saidplunger having an axially extending slot disposed to receive primersejected from cartridge cases carried on said plunger and a portextending from said slot through the plunger wall, a primer armpivotably mounted on said :tool and extending into the slot of saidplunger and including means to deflect primers through said port, thelower end of said slot being inclined to provide a cam surface engagedby the inner end of said primer arm, said primer arm being automaticallyoperated between a horizontal position for insertion of a primer into acartridge case carried by the plunger and an upwardly inclined positionfor receiving primers in response to the vertical stroke of saidplunger.

3. Ammunition reloading tool as set forth in claim 2 and in which saidprimer arm includes an upward-1y opening cup for receiving and settingprimers in deprimed cartridge cases.

4. Ammunition reloading tool as set forth in claim 2 in which said frameis pivotably mounted in a case and has a stem portion extending belowthe base, said plunger being carried by said stem, an operating leverpivotably connected to said plunger and means for changing the positionof the operating lever relative to said frame.

5. Ammunition reload-ing tool as set forth in claim 2 in which saidmeans for carrying ammunition components on the head of said plungerincludes a slot opening to a rim which fits around the rim of acartridge case, said slot and the primer arm being offiset a substantialangle one relative to the other.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,642,344 9/1927Spencer 86-2 3 1,718,107 6/1929 Bond 86--37 1,979,603 11/1934 Bosler8623 2,267,662 12/ 1941 Miller.

2,741,148 4/1956 Thompson 86-23 2,847,895 8/1958 Huntington et a1. 8636X BENJAMIN A. BORCH-ELT, Primary Examiner.

R. V. LOTTMANN, Assistant Examiner.

1. IN AN AMMUNITION RELOADING TOOL HAVING A FRAME AND PLUNGER, A PRIMERARM DISPOSED ON SAID FRAME AND PIVOTABLE BETWEEN PRIMER RECEIVING ANDPRIMER INSERTING POSITIONS, SAID PLUNGER INCLUDING A LONGITUDINALLYEXTENDING SLOT, FOR EJECTED PRIMER CAPS, TERMINATING AT ITS LOWER END INAN OUTWARDLY EXTENDING CAM SURFACE, SAID PRIMER ARM EXTENDING INTO SAIDSLOT AND BEING ENGAGED BY SAID CAM SURFACE WHEN THE PLUNGER IS RAISED,SAID ARM THUS BEING PIVOTABLE IN RESPONSE TO RECIPROCABLE PLUNGERMOVEMENT WHEREBY SAID ARM IS AUTOMATICALLY MOVED BY SAID PLUNGER FROM ANUPWARDLY EXTENDING PRIMER RECEIVING POSITION TO A GENERALLY HORIZONTALPOSITION FOR INSERTING A PRIMER INTO A CARTRIDGE, SAID LONGITUDINAL SLOTTERMINATING AT ITS LOWER END IN COMMUNICATION WITH A PORT EXTENDING FROMTHE SLOT THROUGH THE WALL OF THE PLUNGER, THE END OF SAID PRIMER ARMTERMINATING AT SAID PORT WHEN THE PLUNGER IS AT ONE END OF ITS STROKEWHEREBY SAID PRIMER ARM SERVES TO DEFLECT EJECTED PRIMERS FROM SAID SLOTTHROUGH SAID PORT.